AS a player you’re judged on winning things, and on the domestic scene Ryan Giggs has won everything.

So it’s going to be a huge disappointment to him that he’ll retire from international football without ever having played in a major tournament.

Obviously Wales haven’t won anything, but he’s given a lot of enjoyment to Welsh fans over the years.

Ryan will play his 64th game for Wales on Saturday and I think it’s the right time to bow out.

I wish him well, he goes with my blessing, and whatever happens against the Czech Republic on Saturday he’ll get a fantastic send-off.

It will be an emotional day for him and for his family, and as a person and as a professional he goes out with his head held high. Maybe a few more fans will turn up as well knowing it’s his last game.

It looks like it’s going to be a disappointing campaign for Wales, and the next major tournament is in South Africa in 2010, when Ryan will be 36 going on 37, so I think he realises it’s not going to happen.

It is such a shame he never had the chance to play on a tournament stage. Unfortunately, we got close a couple of times but it didn’t quite happen.

He will be sorely missed by Wales – not just as a player but in terms of the experience he brings to the squad.

But every time he puts on a Welsh international jersey people expect him to win the game on his own – he’s under enough pressure playing for Manchester United without that.

It is definitely a sad day for Wales, but I understand exactly why Ryan has done this and I back his decision 100%.

He’s 33 now. He’s looking at his body now and the wear and tear you get – when you get to a certain age you don’t clear the injuries as quickly and he’s prolonged his career by two or three years.

At the highest level, football is physically demanding and mentally draining.

When you think of the huge number of important games Manchester United have played this season, I am pretty sure Ryan will be exhausted. In that situation, something has to give.

He will have looked at Paul Scholes, and also the example of Alan Shearer, and seen how much benefit you get from proper rest between matches and thought it was the right thing to do.

Ryan wants to prolong his career at domestic level at one of the biggest clubs in the world. You have to understand his decision to put all his energy into club football.

His decision is going to be a great bonus to Manchester United, though.

I bet Sir Alex Ferguson is smiling today knowing that he’s going to have him week in, week out, and that he’s not going to have the distraction of travelling away for internationals and he knows he won’t be picking up injuries from Wales games.

There is no doubt in my mind, United will benefit from this, as will Ryan, and I’m pretty certain it will prolong his career as well.

As far as Wales are concerned, John Toshack’s trying to build a team for the future, but I don’t go along with his thinking.

He should have worked harder to keep players like Gary Speed and Robbie Savage in the squad.

Football’s about now – it’s about getting results. We were getting very close to qualifying for a major tournament under Mark Hughes.

Wales were giving the fans some belief and they turned up in their numbers, but that support’s dwindled recently and we need to build that up again.

Hopefully we can move on – but nobody can replace Ryan.

Gareth Bale has potential, but I don’t see him in the same class of player. He’s got a good left foot, but he doesn’t have the same attacking ability.

There is only one Ryan Giggs.

Wales have been very lucky to have him and it is highly unlikely we will get another player of such ability.

Like everyone else, I just wish him the best of luck for the future and hope to see him winning trophies at United for a few years yet.